Northern Secondary School

February 10th, 2023

Monday, February 13, 2023 09:57 AM

Dear Northern Families,

We are back into the swing of things. Activities are running full-steam again and classes humming. Lots of important information below this week- please pay particular attention to guidance during this course selection period!

School Immunization – Toronto Public Health (TPH) will be holding a vaccine clinic at Northern Secondary School on Tuesday February 14th, 2023. This catch-up clinic will offer Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Meningococcal vaccines to students who are missing one or more doses of these important vaccines. The clinic will be held during school hours for Grade 9-12 students who attend the school.

  • Click HERE to read an important letter from Toronto Public Health.
  • Click HERE to open the consent form.
  • Click HERE to view the promotional poster.
  • Click HERE to view a fact sheet.
  • Click HERE to view the checklist.
  • Click HERE to view frequently asked questions.

 

4 Things to Know About Northern Next Week:

  1. Monday: Course Selection Fair- extended lunch.
  2. Monday to Tuesday: Grade Photo Re-Takes (Heritage Room)
  3. Tuesday: TPH Vaccination Clinic (auditorium)
  4. Wednesday: Late Start PLC (9:55am)
  5. Friday: PD Day! (and Family Day Monday the 20th is a holiday!)

 

Student Success

December Coat Drive - Thank you to every parent/guardian and student that donated jackets and winter clothing to our drive. It was a huge success! Many schools and families around the city have reached out to say thank you. I can't thank you all enough for all your generous donations!!

NSS Peer Tutoring

Peer Tutoring for Semester 2 is now available! If you would like to be matched with a tutor, please fill out the form here.

Please complete the form for each class you require support.

 

A Message from Dale Callendar:

A new chapter arrives for me on Feb 27th, 2023-after 24 years+ at Delisle Youth Services/Skylark Children and Youth Services and Lumenus Community Services, specifically and targeted at the in school program at Northern Secondary School, I will be leaving Lumenus and Northern, beginning a new full time year round job as the Managing Director at Camp Winston –returning to my original “roots” in summer and residential camping – I am where I am today, because of my initial camp jobs, experiences and learning, with Bolton Camp, Swallowdale Camp and YMCA Cedar Glen!

  1. Winston (https://www.campwinston.com)and the Winston Foundation is a charity that offers summer programs, respite programs, and year-round support for youth with a variety of neurobiological abilities and their families/caregivers. Our programs support youth living with Autism, Tourettes, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, OCD, Anxiety and ODD. With an increasing number of children diagnosed with neurobiological disorders, demand for Camp Winston’s programs and services is rapidly growing. The importance of the Camp Winston experience for our youth and their families is now more crucial than ever.
  1. will cherish the years, experiences and memories of all that is special with my collaboration at Northern – the unique vantage point of being involved in activities such as the athletic teams of Football, Rugby, the BAA, Student Council, Fashion show, WellNSS, Mainstage, performing at Faculty follies, breakfast and snack programs out of my office, my work with the Northern Secondary School Foundation , the re-vitalization of the Clarke Pulford Field, daily thoughts for the day, and of course, the photos that just demonstrated a glimpse of Northern life and special events and people, have been highlights – but most all , those connections with our young people, and the support and friendships built with a core group of staff who I can call my friends as well.
  1. passion and drive has always been to help reduce barriers and access to mental health services, find a common language and normalcy to support and dialogue around mental health, advocacy, and what is possible – to this end, I will look back on how far we’ve come, but how much we still need to do.

Over the next two weeks, I will be working with Lumenus to address a transition support plan for those currently involved in counselling services at Northern with Lumenus, and continued access to support from Lumenus as part of ongoing collaboration.

 

TDSB Special Education and Inclusion Presents:

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Session #2

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM: LC1

Learn about Special Education and Inclusion

If you require a language interpreter, please send in your request by Mon., Feb. 20th to SpecialEd@tdsb.on.ca.

 

HOSA - Fall Leadership Conference 2022

If you are interested in participating in health science competitions at HOSA’s Spring Leadership Conference (SLC) taking place on May 17 and 18, 2023, in Downtown Toronto, join Northern’s HOSA Club. The last day to register, pay, and change your event/teammate information is March 17 at 11:59 pm. The top three competitors/teams from each event will be offered the opportunity to compete at the International Leadership Conference taking place June 21-24 2023 in Dallas, TX

Our google classroom code is CQBHZXH -- join to receive updates and information. Everyone is welcome!

To learn more about HOSA Canada: https://hosacanada.org/

To learn more about HOSA’s International Leadership conference: https://hosa.org/ilc/

 

Attention Graduates:

Graduation photos will take place Monday, February 13th and Tuesday, February 14th. Space is limited and will be the final chance to book a session at the school. Please book an appointment online following the link and steps below:

https://booking.edgeimaging.ca/portal/book/NEH

Click “Classic Sitting”, “Retake Sitting” or “Yearbook Only” Sitting

Choose date and time of your liking, click “confirm and pay now”

Enter student, contact and billing information and “click confirm and pay”

**Props will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own to personalize your session. Props could include- fake flowers, a rolled-up paper and ribbon as a scroll, an old school photo, a hard cover book, a small item that shows of your personality or interests.

**Please come prepared in a white collared shirt or blouse and tie.

**A black graduation gown, sash and graduation cap will be available

**Your confirmation email will confirm the location of your session will take place

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

School Council News (for parents, by parents!):

1) Walking Buddies - Saturday, February 11 at 9:30-10:30 am - join other Northern parents to walk and talk about parenting, school, and life. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for more details.

2) Teens and Relationships - Wednesday, February 22 at 7 pm - Is your teen having difficulty keeping relationships? are they unhealthy? have they experienced rejection? Join psychologist, Elizabeth McEwen, on this live call for students and parents. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for a link.

3) School Council Meeting - Thursday February 23 at 6:30 pm on Zoom - hear updates from the Principal and Committees, as well as guests, Superintendent Ron Felsen and Chairman Rachel Chernos-Lin. To obtain a link please send an e-mail to Chandra.Ramdhani@tdsb.on.ca with "School Council Meeting link" in the subject line. The link will be sent out the afternoon of February 23. If you have any questions for the Principal's Update, please send them to nss.school.council@gmail.com.

4) University Admissions: What Every Parent Should Know - Monday, February 27, 7-8 pm - Join Teo Salgado, an independent educational consultant to learn more about this crucial point in your child’s educational journey. He will provide an overview of the university admissions process and discuss factors to consider in choosing universities. He will review the various elements of admission applications and reveal how your student can prepare a winning application. He will also cover the many ways you can finance post-secondary education, including scholarships and grants. Click here to join.

5) How to Manage Another's Anxiety - Tuesday, February 28 at 7 pm - Discuss ways to help your child manage their anxiety and stress in healthy ways. Learn to create safety in communication with your kids through empathy and attunement, so they will come to you when they need your guidance. Presented by Pine River's Center for Family Initiatives. Register here.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation

Read more about Northern alumni who

  • Wrote the best seller The Digital Goddess: Unfiltered Lessons of a Female Entrepreneur.
  • Developed the idea of a Bitmojis while an art student at Northern.
  • Founded Kijiji in Canada and now leads Real Ventures.
  • Graduated from Stanford with an NBA and Engineering degree, passed on the CFL to become an Insurance Executive.
  • Remembered the excitement of the ’72 Summit between Canada and the USSR

Go www.nssf.ca/Stories

 

Guidance Updates:

  1. NSS 2023-2024 Course Selection Events and Information!
    1. Students will complete their course selection for the 2023-2024 year through www.myblueprint.ca/tdsb. All students have an account and access to this course selection tool.
    2. Check out our 2023-2024 Course Selection Google Site

Where you can find:

Department specific info

  1. Course selection worksheets
  2. Course Selection slide presentations
  1. myBlueprint CLOSES for course selection February 28, 2023 @ 4pm.
    1. Please note, myBlueprint is not first come first serve.
    2. Not submitting course selection before Feb 28th can delay your course selection process.
  1. Department Course Fair @ Lunch Mon. Feb 13th in the 1st and 2nd floor foyers
  1. Opting-Out of the e-Learning Graduation Requirement
    Students may withdraw from the online e-Learning requirement. A parent/caregiver/guardian or student (18 years of age or older or 16 or 17 years of age and withdrawn from parental control) may withdraw by submitting the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form to their school. No explanation or reason is needed to opt out/withdraw.

If you are not ready to make a decision with regard to participating in e-Learning, there will be future opportunities to participate in e-Learning courses or withdraw from the graduation requirement. A final decision is not required at this time.

If you have decided now to withdraw from the graduation requirement, please complete the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form.

  1. Post- Secondary Updates:

Individual colleges and universities are booking presentations with NSS. Be sure to check out the Post-Secondary calendar in the Grade 12 Guidance Google Classroom for dates and times.

OUAC Updates can be found here.

Check out our NSS Guide to Applying to Post-Secondary for info about post-secondary application dates, process and links.

  1. Looking for Scholarship Application Support?

Seeking Scholarships has released their February Scholarship Report which has new and upcoming scholarship dates listed, as well as tips to support a strong application.

Northern students, teachers, and families can access from this link using the password, scholar1: https://seekingscholarships.com/the-scholarship-report-2/?mc_cid=0a7a52e07f&mc_eid=a90fd997dd

Please note: This resource is copyrighted and only available to Northern families - please do not share outside of the Northern community.

The Northern Secondary School Foundation will be opening scholarships for application soon. Graduating students can choose up to three scholarships to apply for. Grade 12s can start exploring available awards here: https://nssf.ca/scholarships/

  1. Please note: the TDSB Volunteer Policy States that an eligible volunteer activity constitutes:
  • An event or activity designed to be of benefit to the community.
  • A volunteer activity – not for pay or credit.
  • An event or activity to support a not-for-profit initiative.

For more information please visit the TDSB Community Involvement policy.

Students, looking for Volunteer or Youth Employment Opportunities? Check your Student Guidance Google classroom: Gr. 9 code: 4ixv2jl; Gr. 10 code: kmv6fcz; Gr. 11 code: twdxca6; Gr. 12 code

 

Have a great weekend!

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS

 

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